ORDER OF
FINISH

1.
Colorado State 10-2 (6-1)

2.
BYU 9-3 (6-1)

3.
New Mexico 8-4 (5-2)

4.
Air Force 9-3 (4-3)

5.
San Diego State 6-6 (3-4)

6.
UNLV 3-8 (2-5)

7.
Utah 2-9 (1-6)

8.
Wyoming 4-8 (1-6)

Team
most likely to surprise – Wyoming… True, the
Cowboys have been down in recent years, but they finally
have a coach who knows how to win (since Tiller left),
and has proven it at two different levels (Divisions II
and I-AA). Joe Glenn inherits 13 starters, which includes
a red-hot QB, some dynamite receivers, and experience
on defense. He won’t win the MWC this season, but the
bar will certainly be set higher.

Team
most likely to disappoint – Utah… Everyone is
expecting the Utes to take off with new head coach Urban
Meyer and his spread offense. Well folks, you need the
personnel to work with first, and Meyer doesn’t have it
just yet. In a tougher MWC (than in years past), the Utes
might find themselves grounded near the bottom while they
establish team identity.Don’t expect them
there for long though.

TOUGHEST
SCHEDULE: BYU… The Cougars have non-conf. road games
against USC and Notre Dame, as well as a home contest
vs. Boise State. In conference, they travel to New Mexico
and San Diego State, while playing host to Air Force and
Colorado State. If the Cougars can get 10 wins from this
schedule, it will be a big accomplishment.

WEAKEST
SCHEDULE: Air Force… The Zoomies get off easy in non-confs
with Wofford and Northwestern in their first two games,
and Army and Navy sprinkled in later on. Conference games
are a bit tougher, especially hitting the road to face
BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico and San Diego State.

BEST
COACHING STAFF: Air Force… In Fisher DeBerry’s 19 years
at the Academy, his Falcons have finished 17 times at
.500 or better. 12 of those seasons culminated in bowl
games. They run the perfect offense for the players they
have, and their defense is built around a discipline all
can follow. OC Chuck Peterson is in his 14th
season at the AFA, while DC Richard Bell is in his ninth.
The coach with the most longevity has been OLB/Special
Teams coach, Tom Miller. Miller’s 20 years alongside DeBerry
shows you why the Falcons perennially carry one of the
country’s best ST units.

MOST
TO PROVE: New Mexico QB Casey Kelly. The
Lobos are in a position to win their first ever Mountain
West title. They have the defense to get them off the
ground and the offense to soar; all they need is a QB
to control the flight. Kelly should be the difference
between Liberty and San Francisco.

MOST
TO GAIN: San Diego State RBLynell Hamilton.
As a freshman, this kid should garner a lot of attention.
In the offense that SDSU likes to run, a back like Hamilton
fits perfectly. He’ll provide a great counter to the air-it-out
attack Adam Hall will lead, and he’ll have the
luxury of an experienced offensive line in front of him.
With the passing game spreading out the defense, Hamilton
should run for 1,000-plus.

OVERRATED:
Utah RB Marty Johnson. The guy has talent,
no doubt about it, but he’s rarely had the chance to display
it. In two years at Utah, Mar-J has played in a combined
three games. Injuries have kept this young man
from playing a full season and proving he can make it
against the big boys (his three games have come against
Utah State, twice, and Indiana). A solid back he is, but
let’s see if he can keep up the pace through 12 games
against some stout competition.

UNDERRATED:
San Diego State QB Adam Hall. Van Pelt
and Harridge are two valuable QBs, but if you’re going
to talk best pure quarterback, you’ll want to mention
Hall. He averaged nearly 300 yards a game and completed
60 percent of his passes for a team that won only four
games. He’s also every bit as fierce a competitor as the
aforementioned pair. If you want a real darkhorse Heisman
candidate, look at #14 for SDSU.

BEST
PLAYER NOBODY KNOWS: Colorado State WR/RS David Anderson.
Outside of Colorado, this guy is a relative obscurity.
I liken him a lot to former Ram hero, Pete Rebstock -
he is shifty, very quick, and extremely strong
(bench presses over 300 pounds). He should be more involved
in the Rams offense this season and could evolve into
one of the conference’s best all-around special teams
players as well. He’s a lot of fun to watch.